Association Between Early Maladaptive Schemas and Developmental Crisis Among Young Adults: Mediating Role of...

Analysing the relationship between early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) and developmental crises is critical for advancing targeted interventions; however, the psychological mechanisms underpinning these processes remain largely unexplored. Growing evidence indicates that cognitive flexibility potentially acts as a mediator in this relationship.

Grounded in the schema therapy conceptual model by Young et al. (2003), the present study investigates the mediating effect of cognitive flexibility between EMS and developmental crisis, offering insights for cognitive-based interventions.

A total sample of 200 participants (male = 87, female = 113), aged 18-25 years (M = 20.4, SD = 1.84), were recruited using purposive sampling. The Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-S2), the Developmental Crisis Questionnaire (DCQ) and the Cognitive Flexibility Scale (CFS) were administered.

Pearson product-moment correlation revealed a positive association between EMS and developmental crises, with the most robust relationship observed for the Disconnection and Rejection domain of EMS. Mediation analysis revealed that cognitive flexibility partially mediates the relationship between EMS 1 and developmental crises, while fully mediates the relationship for EMS 2 and 5 with developmental crises, buffering their impact, thereby reducing developmental crises among young adults.

These findings deepen our knowledge of how cognitive patterns influence developmental challenges, delivering practical implications for creating targeted, schema incorporated interventions to strengthen resilience and support mental health in young adults.